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Elkanemys caelestis

Osteichthyes - Testudines

Discussion

Derivation of name. The Latin word caelestis is the root of the Spanish word celeste, meaning light blue. This name refers to the characteristic light blue colour of the fossil specimens from the Baal locality.

https://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DB3A8AA5-5AF1-48DD-9F87-52884AB539BF

Taxonomy
Elkanemys caelestis was named by Sarda and Maniel (2025). Its type specimen is MUC-Pv 2218, a partial skeleton, and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Baal Quarry, Lago Barreales [MUCP], which is in a Turonian/Coniacian terrestrial conglomerate in the Portezuelo Formation of Argentina.

Synonymy list
YearName and author
2025Elkanemys caelestis Sarda and Maniel p. 5 figs. 2-4

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
classOsteichthyes
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
—Reptiliomorpha
RankNameAuthor
—Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
—Sauropsida
classReptilia
—Testudinata(Oppel 1811)
orderTestudinesBatsch 1788
suborderPleurodira
superfamilyPelomedusoidesBroin 1988
superfamilyPodocnemidoidae
genusElkanemys
speciescaelestis

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

†Elkanemys caelestis Sarda and Maniel 2025
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Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
M. Sarda and I. J. Maniel 2025Elkanemys caelestis can be diagnosed as a pelomedusoid pleurodire by the suturing of the pelvic girdle to the shell, the presence of rounded and equidimensional mesoplastra, the absence of nasal bones, and the presence of a quadratojugal. Elkanemys caelestis can be further diagnosed as Elkanemys by possessing a sixsided neural 1 with short posterolateral margins, a quadrangular neural 2, a carapace that is wider posteriorly, and a wide posterior plastral lobe. Elkanemys caelestis differs from E. pritchardi in having a hexagonal neural 5 with short anterolateral sides, proportionally wider vertebral scutes in relation to pleural scutes, vertebral 5 reaching peripheral 11 but not peripheral 10, and a convex femoral-anal sulcus.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: freshwatersubo
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: amphibioussubo
Diet: omnivoresubo
Reproduction: oviparoussubo
Created: 2005-08-26 14:50:50
Modified: 2005-08-26 16:50:50
Source: subo = suborder, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Hendy et al. 2009, Uetz 2005, Kiessling 2004, Carroll 1988

Age range: base of the Late/Upper Turonian to the top of the Early/Lower Coniacian or 93.90000 to 85.70000 Ma

Collections: one only


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Late/Upper Turonian - Early/Lower Coniacian93.9 - 85.7Argentina (Neuquén) Elkanemys caelestis (type locality: 79953)